Counting device

ABSTRACT

A transfer counter in which the planetary gears for transferring motion from one register drum to another are maintained at a fixed distance from the axis of the drums by a generally cylindrical guide member between the drums. Each drum includes a compensating cam and a drive pinion on the side of the drum facing the next higher order drum, and a driven gear on the side facing the next lower order drum. A resiliently biased transfer arm is pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums. The transfer arm is slidably connected to the guide member, while the planetary gears are rotatably carried by the guide member in meshing engagement with the adjacent drive pinion and driven gear. As the lower order drum turns through a major portion of each revolution, the transfer arm pivots the guide member under the control of the cam to produce orbital movement of the planetary gears which exactly compensates for the tendency of the gears to rotate the higher order drum. During the completion of each revolution of the lower order drum, the resilient bias of the transfer arm acts on the guide member and the planetary gears to rapidly move the higher order drum to its next position.

United States Patent [191 Haydon Aug. 14, 1973 COUNTING DEVICE mimi'w.Haydon, Middlebui'y, Conn.

[75] Inventor:

' [73] Assignee: Trl-Tech, Inc., Waterbury, Conn.

22 Filed: June 26, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 266,131

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.197,343, Nov. 10,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1962 Haydon 235/13612/1965 Hoffman 235/136 X Primary Examiner--Stephen J. TomskyAttorney-Lee C. Robinson, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A transfer counter in which the planetary gears fortransferring motion from one register drum to another are maintained ata fixed distance from the axis of the drums by a generally cylindricalguide member between the drums. Each drum includes a compensating camand a drive pinion on the side of the drum facing the next higher orderdrum, and a driven gear on the side facing the next lower order drum. Aresiliently biased transfer arm is pivotally supported about an axisparallel to but spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums. Thetransfer arm is slidably connected to the guide member, while theplanetary gears are rotatably carried by the guide member in meshingengagement with the adjacent drive pinion and driven gear. As the lowerorder drum turns through a major portion of each revolution, thetransfer arm pivots the guide member under the control of the cam toproduce orbital movement of the planetary gears which exactlycompensates for the tendency of the gears to rotate the higher orderdrum. During the completion of each revolution of the lower order drum,the resilient bias of the transfer arm acts on the guide member and theplanetary gears to rapidly move the higher order drum to its nextposition.

19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 14 I973 3.752.965

sum 1 or 5 FIG]. Y

I3 12 II 7/ 1o 7o PATENTEDAUB 14 I913 SHEET 2 0F 5 1 COUNTING DEVICECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 197,343 filedNov. 10, 1971 by A. W. Haydon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to counting devicesand more particularly to transfer counters of the type having aplurality of counting elements and a transfer mechanism between eachpair of elements for transferring motion from the lower order element tothe higher order element.

Among the various types of counting devices employed heretofore, therehas been developed a class of transfer counters which utilize planetarygearing for transferring motion from each counting element to the nexthigher order counting element. Representative counters of this type aredisclosed, for example, in A. W. Haydon U.S. Pat. No. 3,069,083 grantedDec. 18, 1962 and in G. O. Hoffmann U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,322 granted Dec.l4, 1965. The counting elements of such counters customarily are in theform of register drums which are rotatably supported about a common axisin progressively increasing order. With the exception of the highestorder drum, each drum is provided with a compensating cam whichcooperates with a follower carried by a supporting arm for the planetarygearing. The particular gear ratios and the surface contour of each camare such that, as a given drum in a decade counter, for example, rotatesfrom its zero position to its nine" position, the next higher order drumremains stationary. As the given drum is rotated from its nine" to itszero" position, however, the planetary gearing actuates the higher orderdrum to move it through a 36 angle, thus advancing the higher order drumone digit. The support arm for the planetary gearing is provided with abiasing spring which, during the movement of the given drum from zero"to nine," gradually builds up and stores the necessary force to drivethe higher order drum with substantial driving energy.

Prior transfer counters, including those of the foregoing type, commonlyemployed a large number of component parts, each of which had to beseparately fabricated and then arranged in subassemblies which in turnwere interconnected to form the completed unit. In addition, in severaltypes of transfer counters utilized heretofore, the desire forminiaturization dictated that the axial width of each drum be as smallas practical. As a result, the available space for the hubs of the drumswas too small in many instances, and the drums exhibited a tendency towobble or otherwise get out of alignment particularly after repeateduse. Furthermore, and this has been of special moment in the asssemblyof the transfer mechanisms for the drums, special fixtures were oftenrequired in order to place the individual parts in their correctrelationship. These latter difficulties further increased themanufacturing cost of the counters and exhibited other disadvantages.

SUMMARY One general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide anew and improved transfer counter.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide such acounter in which the number of component parts is substantially reduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a counter of thecharacter indicated in which the wobbling of the individual countingelements after repeated usage for the most part is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transfer counter whichmay be quickly and easily assembled in a rapid and straightforwardmanner.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a transfercounter utilizing comparatively simple mechanical components which iseconomical to manufacture and thoroughly reliable in operation.

In one illustrative embodiment of this invention, the counter comprisesa plurality of indicia-bearing counting elements in the form of registerdrums in coaxial relationship with each other. Each of the drumsincludes a compensating cam and a drive pinion on the side of the drumfacing the next higher order drum, and a driven gear on the side facingthe next lower order drum. The cams and gears advantageously areintegral with the corresponding drum to form but a single part. Atransfer arm is interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, and abiasing spring resiliently urges the arm toward the drums rotationalaxis. The transfer arm controls the orbital position of a pair ofplanetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinionon the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum. Asthe lower order drum rotates throughout a major portion of eachrevolution, the action of the transfer arm offsets the tendency of theplanetary gears to drive the higher order drum, and the higher orderdrum remains stationary. During the remaining portion of eachrevolution, however, the biasing spring urges the transfer arm and thecooperating gears in a direction to rapidly drive the higher order drumto its next incremental position.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, in several advantageousembodiments, a guide member of unique configuration and arrangement isinterposed between each pair of adjacent drums to maintain therotational axis of the planetary gears at a fixed distance from therotational axis of the drums and thus hold the gears in engagement withthe corresponding drive pinion and driven gear. The guide memberreplaces several of the parts of previous transfer counters of this typeand exhibits other important advantages.

In accordance with another feature of certain important embodiments ofthe invention, each of the drums is provided with a first hub on theside facing the next higher order drum and a second hub on the sidefacing the next lower order drum. These hubs provide support for theguide members and serve to locate the members within the cylindricalflanges of the drums. With this arrangement, the overall assembly isextremely compact, and substantially greater support is provided foreach drum, with the result that the incidence of wobbling or othermisalignment of the drums is substantially reduced.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, in some goodarrangements, the planetary gears are rotatably carried adjacent theperiphery of the guide member, while the transfer arm includes anintegrally formed pin which is located in a radial slot in the guidemember to permit sliding movement therebetween. The arrangement is suchthat the various parts may be quickly and easily assembled in accuratealignment with one another.

The present invention, as well as further objects and features thereof,will be understood more clearly and fully from the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view ofa clock-type transfer counter in accordance with an illustrativeembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of certain portions of thecounter.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing portions of thecounter in different positions.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a guide member for the counter.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, there is shown a transfer counter having a plurality ofcounting elements in the form of register drums 10-13. The drums 10-13are arrangedin progressively increasing order about a central shaft 15.In the illustrated embodiment the counter is in the form of a digitalclock, with the lowest order drum 10 representing tenths of minutes, thenext pair of drums 11 and 12 representing minutes and the highest orderdrum 13 representing hours. The

peripheries of the drums include appropriate indicia 14 (FIG. 3)corresponding to the desired representation to provide a visibleindication of the time shown by the counter. In addition, in a mannermore fully described in the copending Haydon application Ser. No.197,343 referred to above, the, drums may include suitable switchactuating means'to control an electrical circuit and thus produce codedsignals corresponding to the angular positions of the drums. I

Each of the drums 10-13 is of molded plastic construction. The drums areof generally cup-shaped configuration and include indicia bearingflanges 16 and 160 about their outer peripheries which are spaced fromthe axis of the shaft 15 by integrally formed webs 17. The flange 16afor the hour drum 13 is somewhat wider than the flanges 16 for theremaining drums to accommodate the additional digits. The webs 17 arelocated with respect to the flanges 16 and 16a such that recesses 18 areformed in the portion of each drum which faces the next lower orderdrum. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, these recesses, inthe interests of compactness, accommodatesubstantial portions of thevarious operating components of the counter.

The side of each of the drums 10, 11 and 12 which faces the next higherorder drum is provided with a compensating cam 20, a hub 21 and a drivepinion 22. The opposite side of each of the drums 11, 12 and13, that is,the side facing the next lower order drum, is provided with a hub 23 anda driven gear 24. These latter components are disposed wholly within thedrum flanges 16 and 16a. The cam 20, the hubs 21 and 23 and the gears 22and 24 are all integrally molded with the corresponding drum web 17,such that all of these components on a given drum form a single integralpart of the overall counter assembly.

As best shown in FIGS. 3-5, the compensating cam 20 is disposed on theouter face of the drum. The cam includes a major portion 26 of graduallyincreasing radius and a comparatively sharp step 27. The hub 21 islocated immediately adjacent the exposed face of the cam 20 and is ofcircular configuration, while the drive pinion 22 is positioned on theexposed face of the hub. The hub 23 and the driven gear 24, on the otherhand, are oriented on the opposite or inner face of the drum and aresomewhat larger in diameter than the hub 21 and the pinion22,-respectively.

Interposed between each pair of adjacent drums 10-13 is a generallycylindrical guide member 30 of cage-type configuration. This guidemember, which is best illustrated in FIG. 7, includes two opposed faces31 and 32 which are interconnected by a cylindrical portion 33 having anaperture 34 therein. The faces 31 and 32 are provided with respectiveaxial openings 35 and 36. The opening 35 accommodates the hub 23 (FIG.3) on the higher order drum, while the opening 36 accommodates the hub21 on the adjacent lower order drum. The guide member is freelyrotatable relative to the drums and is disposed substantially entirelywithin the recess 18 in the higher order drum. With this arrangement,the flanges 16 and 16a of adjacent drums may be located in closeproximity with one another to provide an extremely compact structure.

In the illustrated embodiment the guide member 30 is of molded'one-piece construction and advantageously is fabricated from syntheticplastic material. Representative materials which are particularlysuitable for this purpose include the acetol copolymer availablecommercially from the Celanese Corporation under its trademark CELCON,and the acetol homo-v polymer available commercially from E. l. DuPontde Nemours 8r. Co. under its trademark DELRIN. Among their otheradvantages, materials of this type provide the necessary rigidity andyet have a degree of flexibility which makes it easier to assemble thecooperating parts. The materials also exhibit extremely low coefficientsof friction, with theresult that there is no need to lubricate thevarious bearing surfaces. i

A keyhole-shaped aperture 37 is located in the guide member face 32. Theaperture 37 extends in a radially outward direction with its circularouter end 38 closely adjacent the periphery of the guide member. The end38 is in axial alignment with a corresponding aperture 39 in theopposite face 31. The face 32 also includes a comparatively shallow slot40 which extends inwardly from the periphery of the guide member and, asbest shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is spaced from the aperture 37 by aboutthirty degrees.

Theapertures 37 and 39 on the guide member 30 accommodate a planetarygear assembly 42 of one-piece plastic construction. The assembly 42includes a large diameter gear 43 and a small diameter gear 44 whichprotrude through the opening 34 and are in respective meshing engagementwith the drive pinion 22 on the lower order drum and the driven gear 24on the higher order drum. An axle 45 is integrally molded with the gears43 and 44. One of the protruding ends of the axle 45 is inserted in theaperture 39, while the opposite end is manually pressed into theaperture 37 and is held in place in the end portion 38 by a snap fit.The assembly 42 is freely rotatable relative to the guide member 30, andthe guide member maintains the rotational axis of the assembly at afixed orbital distance from the rotational axis of the drums. Thisdistance is such that the gears 43 and 44 are held in meshing engagementwith the pinion 22 and the gear 24 at all times.

A stationary rod 47 (FIG. 2) is positioned in spacedparallel-relationship with the drum shaft 15. The rod 47 pivotallysupports three resiliently biased transfer mechanisms 50 which extendbetween the respective pairs of adjacent drums -13. As best shown inFIG. 3, each of the mechanisms 50 comprises a transfer arm 51 whichillustratively is molded from a plastic material similar to that usedfor the guide member 30. The arm 51 includes a straight, rigid portion52 having a sleeve 53 at one end which accommodates the rod 47. Theremaining portion 54 of the arm 51 is slightly more flexible and extendsalong an arc substantially concentric with the shaft 15. The free end ofthe portion 54 is provided with an integrally formed pin 55. This pin isslidably disposed in the guide member slot 40.

A follower 57 is integrally formed with the transfer arm 51 at the pointat which the arm portions 52 and 54 meet. The follower 57 is in the formof a small protrusion which rests on the adjacent compensating cam 20and is resiliently urged against the cam bya biasing spring 60. Thespring 60 is disposed around the rod 47 and bears against the transferarm 51 to urge the arm in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4and 5, toward the rotational axis of the drums. The portion of thespring which acts on the arm is held in place by three protruding lugs62 which are integrally formed with the arm.

The drive mechanism for the counter is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2and is powered by an electric motor 63 having a reduction gear box 64.The gear box 64 includes an output pinion 65 which is connected to thedriven gear 24 on the lowest order drum 10 through a reduction geartrain including idler gears 66 and 67. Although a wide variety of motorsmay be used to drive the counter, illustrative motors that areparticularly advantageous are disclosed, for example, in A. W. HaydonU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,370,189, 3,469,132, 3,495,107, 3,495,] l l, 3,495,113and 3,564,314. in the illustrated embodimentthe motor is an acsynchronous clock motor, and the reduction gearing is such that thelowest order drum 10 rotates continuously at one rpm, thus providing avisual reading to the nearest tenth of a minute. in other embodiments,the motor operates as .a stepper motor to advance the drum 10 insuccessive discrete increments.

The motor 65 is affixed to a mounting plate 68. A second mounting plate62 is disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the plate 68, andthe two plates provide support for the drum shaft and the transfer armrod 47. The plates 68 and 69 are mounted on a face member 70 which isdisposed about a portion of the periphery of the drums 10-13. The member70 includes a transparent insert 71 to enable the visual reading of theindicia on the drums. A housing 72 is-disposed about the remainingportion of the counter and includes a suitable grommet 73 for the motorlead wires (not shown).

The drums 10-13 are freely rotatable about the shaft 15, and the guidemembers 30 are freely rotatable about the drums. During the rotation ofthe lowest order drum 10 in response to the drive motor 65, the

pinion 22 on the drum l0 acts on the planetary gears 43 and 44 in adirection which tends to produce similar rotation of the adjacent higherorder drum 11. However, as the drum 10 rotates from its zero position toits nine" position, the compensating cam 20 urges the follower 57 awayfrom the shaft 15 to pivot the transfer arm 51 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, about the rod 47 against thebiasing force of the spring 60. The movement of the arm 51 pivots theguide member 30 and the rotational axis of the gears 43 and 44 about theaxis of the shaft 15. The cam 20 is contoured such that the movement ofthe gears 43 and 44 exactly compensates for the tendency of the gears todrive the higher order drum, with the result that the higher order drum11 remains stationary.

Upon the movement of the lowest order drum 10 between its nine and itszero" position, the follower 57 drops off the lobe of the cam 20. Thetransfer arm 51, the guide member 30, and the axis of the planetarygears 43 and move rapidly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4and 5, under the action of the stored energy in the spring 60. Themovement of the gears 43 and 44 produces rapid rotation of the higherorder drum 11 through a 36 angle to urge the drum from its zero positionto its one position. The arrangement is such that the pivotal movementof the guide member 30 is controlled by the transfer arm 51, and thetransfer arm's movement in turn is controlled by the compensating cam 20and the spring 60. The rotational axis of the planetary gears 43 and 44is fixed relative to the guide member, and the guide member thusdetermines the orbital position of the planetary gears while at the sametime maintaining the gears in engagement with the corresponding drivepinion 22 and the driven gear 24 during the operation of the higherorder drum. The construction and arrangement of the guide member and thecooperating transfer arm enable the elimination of such ancillary partsas radius arms, cam rollers, bushings, etc. commonly employed incounters used heretofore.

In a similar manner, the transfer mechanism 50 between the drums 11 and12 advances the drum 12 one step for each revolution of the drum 11. incases in which the apparatus is used as a digital clock, the drum 12 hassix incremental positions, corresponding to tens of minutes. Thetransfer mechanism 50 between the drum 12 and the highest order drum 13also advances the drum 13 from one incremental position to the next inresponse to each revolution of the drum 12. The drum 13 is provided with12 incremental positions corresponding to the hours of a standard clock,or with 24 incremental positions for a 24 hour clock.

The counter may be readily set to the correct time through the use ofmanually operable thumb wheels 75 and 76. The wheels 75 and 76 protrudethrough corresponding openings 78 and 79 in the face member andrespectively cooperate with the lowest order drum 10 and the highestorder drum 13. As best shown in FIG. 6, the wheel is rotatably supportedon the mounting plate 68 and is in meshing engagement with an idlerpinion 80 carried by a stub shaft 81. A gear 82 is integral with thepinion 80 and meshes with a pinion 83 on the adjacent face of the drum10. Upon the manual rotation of the wheel 75, the drum 10 may be quicklyand easily positioned in the desired location.

The thumb wheel 76 is rigidly affixed to the web 17 of the highest orderdrum 13. The wheel 76 surrounds an extemalhub portion 85 of the drum 13,and the wheel and the drum are rotatable as a unit about the centralshaft 15. The guide member hub 23 and the driven gear 24 for the drum 13are formed on a separate connecting member 87. The connecting member 87likewise is rotatable relative to the shaft and includes a ratchetconnection 89 for permitting slippage between the member 87 and the hubportion 85.

During normal operation of the counter, the connecting member 87 movesin response tothe transfer mechanism 50 between the drums l2 and 13, andsimilar motion is imparted to the drum 13 through the ratchet connection89. In cases in which it is desired to adjust the position of the drum13 without moving the remaining drums, however, the thumb wheel 76 isrotated to locate the drum in the desired position. During thismovement, slippage occurs between the hub portion 85 and the member 87as a result of the connection 89, and the various transfer mechanismsand remaining drums remain in their initial positions.

As indicated heretofore, in the illustrated embodiment of the inventionthe biasingspring 60 (FIG. 3) acts directly on the transfer arm 51toresiliently urge the follower 57 against the cam 20. inotheradvantageous arrangementsthe resilient bias is provided by ascissors-type spring (not shown) which engages the guide member 30*tourge the member in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5.The rotational bias applied to the member 30 is transferred to thetransfer arm through the protruding pin 55.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to atransfer counter in the form of a digital clock, it will be apparentthat the novel construction and arrangement of the various parts alsoare applicable to othertypes of counting devices. For example, theinvention is readily'adaptable for use in decade or other numericalcounters, elapsed time indicators, thumb wheel switches, etc;

Thejterms and expressions .which have been em ployed are used as termsof description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in theuse of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is! 1. A counting device comprising, in combination:

a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and ahigher order element, the

lower order element including drive means and the f higher order elementincluding driven means; means for operating said lower order element;resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means andsaid driven means for operating the higher order element in response tooperation of the lower order element and in predetermined,

relationship therewith; and

means including a guide member supported by at least one of saidelementsfor maintaining said transfer means g in engagement with saiddrive means and said driven means during said operation of the higherorder element.

2. A counting device comprising, in combination:

a plurality of adjacent counting elements including a lower orderelement and a higher order element, the lower order element includingdrive means and the higher order element including driven means;

means for operating said lower order element;

resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means andsaid driven means for operating the higher order element in responsetooperation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationshiptherewith;

motion modifying means movable with said lower order element andcooperating with said transfer means for rendering the same ineffectiveto transfer motion to said higher order element except duringselected'portions of the operation of said lower order element; and

means including a generally cylindrical guide member supported betweensaid elements for maintaining said transfer means in engagement withsaid drive means and said driven means during said operation of thehigher order element.

3. A counting device comprising, in combination:

a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and ahigher order element, the lower order element including drive means andthe higher order element including driven means;

means for operating said lower order element;

resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means andsaid driven means for operating the higherorderelement in response tooperation of the lower order element andv in predetermined relationshiptherewith; and

means including a guide member supported by both said lower orderelement and said higher order element for maintaining said transfermeans in engagement with said drive means and said driven means duringsaid operation of the higher order element.

4. A counting device comprising, in combination; I, a plurality ofregister drums including alower order.

drum and a higher order drum,'.the lower order drum including drivemeans and the higher order rdrum including driven means; i means forrotating said lower order drum; resiliently biased transfer meansinterconnecting said drive means and said driven means for rotating thehigher order drum in response torotation of the lower order drum and inpredetermined relationship therewith; e a motion modifying means movablewith said lower order drum and cooperating with said transfer means forrendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher orderdrum except during selected portions of the rotation of said lower orderdrum;and{- I, means including a guide member supported by at least oneof said drums for maintaining said trans? fer means in engagement withsaid drive means and said driven means during said rotation of thehigher order drum. 5. A counting device as defined in claim 4, in whichthe resiliently biased transfer means comprises:

a pair of planetary gears in respective meshing engagement with thedrive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higherorder drum; and

a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis spaced from the axis ofrotation of the drums, the transfer arm being slidably connected to saidguide member.

6. A counting device comprising, in combination:

a plurality of counting elements including a lower order element and ahigher order element, the lower order element including drive means andthe higher order element including driven means;

means and said driven means during said operation of the higher orderelement. 8. A counting device as defined in claim 7, in which nd supportmeans and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower orderelement; means for driving the driven means on the lowest order elementto operate said lowest order elemeans for operating said lower orderelement in a ment;

given direction; transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjatransfer means inteconnecting said drive means and cent elements foroperating the higher order elesaid driven means for operating th hi horder ment only during selected portions of the operation element inresponse to operation of the lower order of the lower Order element; andel ment a d i d t i d l i hi h means including a guide member interposedbetween with; each pair of adjacent elements and supported by motionmodifying means movable with said lower the first and Second PP means onthe elementsorder element and cooperating with said transfer in saidPair, Said guide member maintaining Said means for rendering the sameineffective to transtransfer in engagement W the drive means fer motionto said higher order element except duroh the lower order element andthe drive" means ing selected portions of the operation of said lower onhigher Order elementorder element; and 11. A transfer countercomprising, in combination: means including a guide member supported byboth a P i' of g e drums rranged in progressively said lower orderelement and said higher order elemcreasmg order m relaflonshll? f mentfor maintaining said transfer means in enf l each of the drums mdudmgmcfnon modlfy' gagement with said drive means and said driven mg "Ffirst supPon means i dnve means means during said operation of thehigher order elthe i thefeof facmg the next higher order ement. andincluding second support means and driven 7. A counting devicecomprising, in combination: il d h side thel'eof facing the lower aplurality of counting elements including a lower or order element and ahigher order element of means for rotating the driven means on thelowest molded plastic construction in facing relationship (def drum; h If with each other, the lower order element having "if? fgg gx g zjzg gzg zz gig 3 d; drive means on the side facing the higher order eleon] dudselectzd orgions ofgthe o eration of ment, the higher order elementhaving driven g lower irder and p means on the side facing the lowerorder element, means includin b g a gui e mem er interposed between andat least one of the elements having support each pair of adjacent drumsand supported by the means on the side facing the other element; firstand second Support means on the drums in means for operating said lowerorder element; said pair Said guide member maintaining Said resilientlybiased transfer means interconnecting said transfer leans in engagementwith the drive means drive means and said driven means for operating onthe lower order drum and the driven means on the higher order element inresponse to operation the higher order drum of lower order ,elemem andin predetermined 12. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

i i therewith; 40 a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arrangedmono modlfymg means movfible w f lower in progressively increasing orderin coaxial relalament and cooperating transfer tionship with each other,each of the drums includmeans for rendering the same ineffective totransing first Support means and drive means on the side fer motion tosaid higher order element except durthereof facing the next higher orderdrum and ing selected portions of the operation of said lower 4 eludingsecond support means and driven means on order lemgmi and the sidethereof facing the next lower order drum,

means including a molded plastic guide member car- Said support means,drive means and driven means fled y the pp means for maimah'lihg saidbeing integrally formed with the corresponding transfer means inengagement with said drive drum;

means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum;resiliently biased transfer means interposed between the drive means,the driven means and the support means are integrally molded with thecorresponding counting element.

9. A counting'device as defined in claim 7, in which the resilientlybiased transfer means comprises a transfer arm of molded plasticconstruction, and means for resiliently urging the transfer arm intoengagement with the motion modifying means.

10. A transfer counter comprising, in combination: a plurality ofindicia bearing counting elements arranged adjacent one another inprogressively increasing order, each of the counting elements ineludingmotion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the sidethereof facing the next higher order element, and including seceach pairof adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only duringselected portions of the operation of the lower order drum; and

means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed betweeneach pair of adjacent drums and supported by at least one of the supportmeans on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining saidtransfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower orderdrum and the driven means on the higher order drum.

13. A transfer counter as defined in claim 12, the first and secondsupportmeans comprising cylindrical hubs coaxialwith said drums, saidguide member being supported for rotation about said hubs.

14. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

a plurality of register drums arranged in progressively increasing orderin coaxial relationship with each other, each of the drums includingmotion modifying means, first support means and drive means on the sidethereof facing the next higher order drum, and including second supportmeans and driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower orderdrum;

means for rotating the lowest order drum in a given direction;

resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums in cooperating relationship with said motion modifyingmeans, each of the transfer means including a transfer arm pivotallysupported about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of rotationof the drums, said transfer means rotating said higher order drum onlyduring selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum; and

means including a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacentdrums and supported by the first and second support means on the drumsin said pair, said transfer arm being slidably connected to said guidemember, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagementwith the drive means on the lower order drum and i the driven means onthe higher order drum.

15. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including a first hub and drive means on the side thereof facingthe next higher order drum, and including a second hub and driven meanson the side thereof facing the next lower order drum;

means for rotating the driven means on the lowest order drum in a givendirection;

transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums forrotating the higher order drum only during selected portions of therotation of the lower order drum; and t means including a guide memberinterposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported forrotation about the first and second hubs on the drums 'in said pair,said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagement with thedrive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on the higherorder drum.

16. A transfer counter as defined in claim 16, which further comprisesmeans for resiliently biasing the transfer means into engagement withsaid drive means and said driven means.

17. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereoffacing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and adriven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum;

means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum;

resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums, each of the transfer means including a pair of planetarygears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on thelowest order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, toenable operation of said higher order drum only during selected portionsof the operation of said lower order drum;' and means including a guidemember interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported forrotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, saidplanetary gears being rotatably carried by said guide member, said guidemember maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagementwith the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on thehigher order drum.

18. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereoffacing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and adriven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, saidhubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the correspondingdrum;

means for rotating the lowest order drum;

resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formedplanetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinionon the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum andincluding a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel tobut spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, to enable operationof said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operationof said lower order drum; and

means including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed betweeneach pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the firstand second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears beingrotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and saidtransfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guidemember maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagementwith the drive pinion on. the lower order drum and the driven gear onthe higher order drum.

19. A transfer counter comprising, in combination:

a plurality of indiciabearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including a compensating cam, a first hub and a drive pinion onthe side thereof facing the next higher order drum, and including asecond hub and a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lowerorder drum, said cam, hubs, pinions and gears being integrally formedwith the corresponding drum;

means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum;

resiliently biased transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums, each of the transfer means including integrally formedplanetary gears in respective meshing engagement with the drive pinionon the lower order drum and the driven gear on the higher order drum,including a transfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel tobut spaced from the axis of rotation of the drums, and

including a follower carried by the transfer arm and cooperating withthe compensating cam on said 14 the periphery of said guide member andsaid transfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guidemember maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagementwith the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on thehigher order drum.

I I! i I!

1. A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality of countingelements including a lower order element and a higher order element, thelower order element including drive means and the higher order elementincluding driven means; means for operating said lower order element;resiliently biased transfer means interconnecting said drive means andsaid driven means for operating the higher order element in response tooperation of the lower order element and in predetermined relationshiptherewith; and means including a guide member supported by at least oneof said elements for maintaining said transfer means in engagement withsaid drive means and said driven means during said operation of thehigher order element.
 2. A counting device comprising, in combination: aplurality of adjacent counting elements including a lower order elementand a higher order element, the lower order element including drivemeans and the higher order element including driven means; means foroperating said lower order element; resiliently biased transfer meansinterconnecting said drive means and said driven means for operating thehigher order element in response to operation of the lower order elementand in predetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying meansmovable with said lower order element and cooperating with said transfermeans for rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to saidhigher order element except during selected portions of the operation ofsaid lower order element; and means including a generally cylindricalguide member supported between said elements for maintaining saidtransfer means in engagement with said drive means and said driven meansduring said operation of the higher order element.
 3. A counting devicecomprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including alower order element and a higher order element, the lower order elementincluding drive means and the higher order element including drivenmeans; means for operating said lower order element; resiliently biasedtransfer means interconnecting said drive means and said driven meansfor operating the higher order element in response to operation of thelower order element and in predetermined relationship therewith; andmeans including a guide member supported by both said lower orderelement and said higher order element for maintaining said transfermeans in engagement with said drive means and said driven means duringsaid operation of the higher order element.
 4. A counting devicecomprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums including alower order drum and a higher order drum, the lower order drum includingdrive means and the higher order drum including driven means; means forrotating said lower order drum; resiliently biased transfer meansinterconnecting said drive means and said driven means for rotating thehigher order drum in response to rotation of the lower order drum and inpredetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movablewith said lower order drum and cooperating with said transfer means forrendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higher orderdrum except during selected portions of the rotation of said lower orderdrum; and means including a guide member supported by at least one ofsaId drums for maintaining said transfer means in engagement with saiddrive means and said driven means during said rotation of the higherorder drum.
 5. A counting device as defined in claim 4, in which theresiliently biased transfer means comprises: a pair of planetary gearsin respective meshing engagement with the drive means on the lower orderdrum and the driven means on the higher order drum; and a transfer armpivotally supported about an axis spaced from the axis of rotation ofthe drums, the transfer arm being slidably connected to said guidemember.
 6. A counting device comprising, in combination: a plurality ofcounting elements including a lower order element and a higher orderelement, the lower order element including drive means and the higherorder element including driven means; means for operating said lowerorder element in a given direction; transfer means inteconnecting saiddrive means and said driven means for operating the higher order elementin response to operation of the lower order element and in predeterminedrelationship therewith; motion modifying means movable with said lowerorder element and cooperating with said transfer means for rendering thesame ineffective to transfer motion to said higher order element exceptduring selected portions of the operation of said lower order element;and means including a guide member supported by both said lower orderelement and said higher order element for maintaining said transfermeans in engagement with said drive means and said driven means duringsaid operation of the higher order element.
 7. A counting devicecomprising, in combination: a plurality of counting elements including alower order element and a higher order element of molded plasticconstruction in facing relationship with each other, the lower orderelement having drive means on the side facing the higher order element,the higher order element having driven means on the side facing thelower order element, and at least one of the elements having supportmeans on the side facing the other element; means for operating saidlower order element; resiliently biased transfer means interconnectingsaid drive means and said driven means for operating the higher orderelement in response to operation of the lower order element and inpredetermined relationship therewith; motion modifying means movablewith said lower order element and cooperating with said transfer meansfor rendering the same ineffective to transfer motion to said higherorder element except during selected portions of the operation of saidlower order element; and means including a molded plastic guide membercarried by the support means for maintaining said transfer means inengagement with said drive means and said driven means during saidoperation of the higher order element.
 8. A counting device as definedin claim 7, in which the drive means, the driven means and the supportmeans are integrally molded with the corresponding counting element. 9.A counting device as defined in claim 7, in which the resiliently biasedtransfer means comprises a transfer arm of molded plastic construction,and means for resiliently urging the transfer arm into engagement withthe motion modifying means.
 10. A transfer counter comprising, incombination: a plurality of indicia bearing counting elements arrangedadjacent one another in progressively increasing order, each of thecounting elements including motion modifying means, first support meansand drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher orderelement, and including second support means and driven means on the sidethereof facing the next lower order element; means for driving thedriven means on the lowest order element to operate said lowest orderelement; transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacentelements for operating the higher order element only during selectedportions of the operation of the lower order element; and meansincluding a guide member interposed between each pair of adjacentelements and supported by the first and second support means on theelements in said pair, said guide member maintaining said transfer meansin engagement with the drive means on the lower order element and thedriven means on the higher order element.
 11. A transfer countercomprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged inprogressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other,each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support meansand drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum,and including second support means and driven means on the side thereoffacing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means onthe lowest order drum; transfer means interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums for operating the higher order drum only during selectedportions of the operation of said lower order drum; and means includinga guide member interposed between each pair of adjacent drums andsupported by the first and second support means on the drums in saidpair, said guide member maintaining said transfer means in engagementwith the drive means on the lower order drum and the driven means on thehigher order drum.
 12. A transfer counter comprising, in combination: aplurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including first support means and drive means on the side thereoffacing the next higher order drum, and including second support meansand driven means on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum,said support means, drive means and driven means being integrally formedwith the corresponding drum; means for rotating the driven means on thelowest order drum; resiliently biased transfer means interposed betweeneach pair of adjacent drums for operating the higher order drum onlyduring selected portions of the operation of the lower order drum; andmeans including a generally cylindrical guide member interposed betweeneach pair of adjacent drums and supported by at least one of the supportmeans on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining saidtransfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower orderdrum and the driven means on the higher order drum.
 13. A transfercounter as defined in claim 12, the first and second support meanscomprising cylindrical hubs coaxial with said drums, said guide memberbeing supported for rotation about said hubs.
 14. A transfer countercomprising, in combination: a plurality of register drums arranged inprogressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other,each of the drums including motion modifying means, first support meansand drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum,and including second support means and driven means on the side thereoffacing the next lower order drum; means for rotating the lowest orderdrum in a given direction; resiliently biased transfer means interposedbetween each pair of adjacent drums in cooperating relationship withsaid motion modifying means, each of the transfer means including atransfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spacedfrom the axis of rotation of the drums, said transfer means rotatingsaid higher order drum only during selected portions of the rotation ofthe lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposedbetween each pair of adjacent drums and supported by the first andsecond support means on the drums in said pair, said transfer arm beingslidably connected to said guide member, said guide member maintainingsaid transfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lowerorder drum and the driven means on the higher order drum.
 15. A transfercounter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearingreGister drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxialrelationship with each other, each of the drums including a first huband drive means on the side thereof facing the next higher order drum,and including a second hub and driven means on the side thereof facingthe next lower order drum; means for rotating the driven means on thelowest order drum in a given direction; transfer means interposedbetween each pair of adjacent drums for rotating the higher order drumonly during selected portions of the rotation of the lower order drum;and means including a guide member interposed between each pair ofadjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first and secondhubs on the drums in said pair, said guide member maintaining saidtransfer means in engagement with the drive means on the lower orderdrum and the driven means on the higher order drum.
 16. A transfercounter as defined in claim 16, which further comprises means forresiliently biasing the transfer means into engagement with said drivemeans and said driven means.
 17. A transfer counter comprising, incombination: a plurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged inprogressively increasing order in coaxial relationship with each other,each of the drums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the sidethereof facing the next higher order drum, and including a second huband a driven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum;means for rotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resilientlybiased transfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums,each of the transfer means including a pair of planetary gears inrespective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lowest orderdrum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, to enable operationof said higher order drum only during selected portions of the operationof said lower order drum; and means including a guide member interposedbetween each pair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about thefirst and second hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gearsbeing rotatably carried by said guide member, said guide membermaintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagement withthe drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on thehigher order drum.
 18. A transfer counter comprising, in combination: aplurality of indicia bearing register drums arranged in progressivelyincreasing order in coaxial relationship with each other, each of thedrums including a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereoffacing the next higher order drum, and including a second hub and adriven gear on the side thereof facing the next lower order drum, saidhubs, pinions and gears being integrally formed with the correspondingdrum; means for rotating the lowest order drum; resiliently biasedtransfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each ofthe transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears inrespective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower orderdrum and the driven gear on the higher order drum and including atransfer arm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spacedfrom the axis of rotation of the drums, to enable operation of saidhigher order drum only during selected portions of the operation of saidlower order drum; and means including a generally cylindrical guidemember interposed between each pair of adjacent drums and supported forrotation about the first and second hubs on the drums in said pair, saidplanetary gears being rotatably carried adjacent the periphery of saidguide member and said transfer arm being slidably connected to saidperiphery, said guide member maintaining said planetary gears inrespective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower orderdrum and the driven gear on the higher order drum.
 19. A transfercounter comprising, in combination: a plurality of indicia bearingregister Drums arranged in progressively increasing order in coaxialrelationship with each other, each of the drums including a compensatingcam, a first hub and a drive pinion on the side thereof facing the nexthigher order drum, and including a second hub and a driven gear on theside thereof facing the next lower order drum, said cam, hubs, pinionsand gears being integrally formed with the corresponding drum; means forrotating the driven gear on the lowest order drum; resiliently biasedtransfer means interposed between each pair of adjacent drums, each ofthe transfer means including integrally formed planetary gears inrespective meshing engagement with the drive pinion on the lower orderdrum and the driven gear on the higher order drum, including a transferarm pivotally supported about an axis parallel to but spaced from theaxis of rotation of the drums, and including a follower carried by thetransfer arm and cooperating with the compensating cam on said lowerorder drum, to enable operation of said higher order drum only duringselected portions of the operation of said lower order drum; and meansincluding a generally cylindrical guide member interposed between eachpair of adjacent drums and supported for rotation about the first andsecond hubs on the drums in said pair, said planetary gears beingrotatably carried adjacent the periphery of said guide member and saidtransfer arm being slidably connected to said periphery, said guidemember maintaining said planetary gears in respective meshing engagementwith the drive pinion on the lower order drum and the driven gear on thehigher order drum.